The Spring 2023 B. H. Rowland Foundation
Award Recipients
Waynett Taylor
Waynett Taylor is an Inclusive Child Care Coach in Cabarrus County. She received the Bobbie Rowland
Foundation Award for Excellence because of the broad impact of her work with child care providers
during the COVID pandemic. She led efforts to adjust coursework at the community college so as to
better address the emotional needs of both caregivers and the children they care for. She collaborated
with community agencies and organizations to create a certification program for child care owners and
directors, provide financial support for individuals pursuing certification or a degree in early childhood,
and pilot the Infant-Toddler Trauma Informed program to address the social and emotional needs of
child care providers and help them make changes to the classroom environment to better meet the
needs of children.
Foundation Award for Excellence because of the broad impact of her work with child care providers
during the COVID pandemic. She led efforts to adjust coursework at the community college so as to
better address the emotional needs of both caregivers and the children they care for. She collaborated
with community agencies and organizations to create a certification program for child care owners and
directors, provide financial support for individuals pursuing certification or a degree in early childhood,
and pilot the Infant-Toddler Trauma Informed program to address the social and emotional needs of
child care providers and help them make changes to the classroom environment to better meet the
needs of children.
Wendy Mabry
Wendy Mabry is a Lead NC PreK Teacher for 4 & 5 year olds in Stanly County. She received the Bobbie
Rowland Foundation Award for Excellence due to the significant changes she made in her practices to
support children during COVID. She increased her use of technology to ensure children felt part of a
classroom community. She also prioritized efforts to build stronger relationships with the families of the
children in her classroom through the use of newsletters, classroom dojo, positive phone calls, and
monthly family involvement projects. The parent-teacher partnerships created through these efforts led
to increased parental involvement and closer relationships with both children and their families. They’ve
changed the way she teaches in these post-COVD times and will impact children for years to come.
Rowland Foundation Award for Excellence due to the significant changes she made in her practices to
support children during COVID. She increased her use of technology to ensure children felt part of a
classroom community. She also prioritized efforts to build stronger relationships with the families of the
children in her classroom through the use of newsletters, classroom dojo, positive phone calls, and
monthly family involvement projects. The parent-teacher partnerships created through these efforts led
to increased parental involvement and closer relationships with both children and their families. They’ve
changed the way she teaches in these post-COVD times and will impact children for years to come.
Allison Gibson
Allison Gibson is a NC PreK Teacher for four- and five-year-olds in Gaston County. She received the
Bobbie Rowland Foundation Award for Excellence due to the ways in which she modified her classroom
practices to meet the needs of her children and families during COVID. She utilized technology to help
her students develop essential skills, and to build relationships with her children and their families. For
example, she coordinated “drive-by” events so that families could pick up materials that would be used
in upcoming Zoom lessons and provided opportunities for children to lead Zoom activities as well. She
mailed letters to her children and included self-addressed, stamped envelopes so her children could
send notes back. She even “sent herself” to the children in the form of a small, look-alike cut out (like a
paper doll) so she could be “with the children” as they completed lessons and went about their daily
routines. Although she has been teaching for some time, these changes have permanently altered the
way she teaches.
Bobbie Rowland Foundation Award for Excellence due to the ways in which she modified her classroom
practices to meet the needs of her children and families during COVID. She utilized technology to help
her students develop essential skills, and to build relationships with her children and their families. For
example, she coordinated “drive-by” events so that families could pick up materials that would be used
in upcoming Zoom lessons and provided opportunities for children to lead Zoom activities as well. She
mailed letters to her children and included self-addressed, stamped envelopes so her children could
send notes back. She even “sent herself” to the children in the form of a small, look-alike cut out (like a
paper doll) so she could be “with the children” as they completed lessons and went about their daily
routines. Although she has been teaching for some time, these changes have permanently altered the
way she teaches.